President Benigno S. Aquino III listen to the speech of Secretary general of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon during the 7th ASEAN – United Nations Summit at the Conference Hall 1 of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Sunday (November 22, 2015) at the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau)
KUALA LUMPUR – On his last attendance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit, President Aquino bade farewell to his fellow leaders and sought their understanding for causing them “undue stress.”
“I hope that, over the past years, I have done my share in bringing the dream of a solid and singular Asean Community closer to reality. I ask for your understanding if, in the course of building this consensus, I have caused undue strain or stress to you, my dear colleagues,” Aquino said in his intervention at the 7th Asean-United Nations summit on Sunday.
It was also on Sunday that the Asean leaders, after 10 years, made official the Asean Economic Community to bolster economic ties and political alliances among Southeast Asian countries.
The dispute between Philippines and China over the South China Sea is believed to have taken toll in the creation of the Asean economic union. Not only Philippines but also other Asean members–Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia–have overlapping claims with China.
“In all of our interactions and during my visits to your countries, I have strived to look at issues through your perspective, which allowed me better insight as to how you weighed your decisions, and gave me a firmer understanding of what each of us can and cannot do,” he said.
“In the same token, please know that every position that I took was founded on my oath to champion the welfare of my people—an oath that each of us swore to as leader of our respective nations,” Aquino added.
Aquino said these before the 10 leaders of member-countries of Asean and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon at the two-day Asean summit held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.
But Aquino said he regrets one thing.
“My only regret is that, given the rotation of hosting among the 10 Asean member-states, I have not had the fortune of hosting Your Excellencies, Your Majesty, and our dialogue partners in my six years in office. I assure you, without a shadow of a doubt, that come our hosting of the ASEAN and related summits in 2017, you will see the Philippines reciprocating the graciousness and warmth that you have constantly extended to my delegation,” he said.
The next Asean summit in late 2016 will be hosted by Laos. Aquino’s term will expire at noon on June 30 next year.
The Filipino president also thanked the Asean members for the “courtesy and camaraderie” they have accorded him throughout his term.
“Prior to this job, I can probably claim to be a very well-read person, although not as well-travelled as I would have liked. My Presidency thrust me into this role as diplomat, and I must say that it was truly a valuable learning experience,” he said.
He said that all his interactions with the Asean members have led to his personal growth and of the country.